COVID-19 Update:
Applicants,
Please see the following response from Dr. Jeri Bullock, Director of Admissions, about the University of Utah School of Dentistry response to applicants regarding COVID-19:
- If an applicant attends a school that has made system-wide grading changes due to COVID-19, the University of Utah School of Dentistry will be flexible regarding the graded requirements for pre-requisite coursework.
- When given the choice of a letter grade versus a pass/fail or credit/no credit option, the University of Utah School of Dentistry prefers a letter grade.
- According to AADSAS pass/fail or credit/no credit does not affect the overall student GPA.
- The University of Utah School of Dentistry will still require a DAT score.
- If the applicant is unable to take the DAT due to COVID-19 scheduling difficulties, we recommend submitting an application without a DAT score, and then submitting the DAT score at a later date.
- The application will be screened; however, interview invitations will not be extended until a DAT score is received.
- The applicant can submit a short paragraph detailing how COVID-19 affected their application.
Most of all, we ask for your patience during these times. Future changes to our criteria will be communicated to you as well as posted on our website and social media accounts. Please also share with students that we, under the leadership of Dean Hume and with the support of the University of Utah Health leaders, strongly believe that the ways were are innovating our teaching methodologies, clinical care, and research will result in our emergence as an even stronger institution.
Please stay safe and be well.
Dr. Jeri Bullock
Director of Admissions, University of Utah School of Dentistry
Admissions Requirements
Education
All applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited United States college or university.
Prerequisite coursework
To meet prerequisite requirements for admission and to gain necessary background for the study of dentistry, the following minimum education requirements must be completed before matriculation in the dental program at the U of U School of Dentistry:
Anatomy (Human or Comparative) | 3 semester hours |
Biochemistry | 3 semester hours |
Biology | 6 semester hours |
Chemistry, general/inorganic | 8 semester hours |
Chemistry, organic | 6 semester hours |
English composition/technical writing | 6 semester hours |
Physics | 6 semester hours |
Physiology | 3 semester hours |
Microbiology (Microbiology Lab required) | 3 semester hours |
Recommended Courses
The recommended courses are counted towards elective credits and include the following:
- Business
- Cell biology
- Communications
- Computer science
- Ethics
- Histology
- Molecular biology/genetics
- Additional biology, chemistry and/or physics courses
- 3-Dimensional art
Job Shadowing
80 hours required; we recommend shadowing a minimum of four different dentists.
GPA Requirements
The minimum GPA requirement for acceptance is 3.0 (cumulative and science).
Dental Admission Test (DAT)
All applicants are required to take the DAT and submit scores via AADSAS, preferably by October of the last pre-dental year. To be considered for admission, a minimum score of 17 in every section of the DAT is required. The average of current students is 21 for academic average and perceptual average, and 20 for total science. Test application information and procedures can be found on the ADA website. Submitted DAT scores must represent results achieved within the last 3 years.
Physical Ability Requirements
Applicants must be able to perform physical and manual functions, with reasonable accommodations, necessary to the performance of dentistry.
Letters of Recommendation
Must submit three letters via AADSAS.
- Two letters from science instructors who taught you in a classroom setting and assigned a grade
- One letter from a college/university committee, a non-science instructor, dental professional, employer, supervisor or clergy member
- If desired, you may submit an optional fourth letter attesting to character and fitness for the profession of dentistry
Advanced Standing and Transfer Applications
The University of Utah School of Dentistry currently does not accept transfer students or participate in an advanced standing program.
Residency
We accept legal residents from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.
Contact Us
Alex Steele, MBA, MSBA
Associate Director of Admissions
801-646-4654
dental.admissions@hsc.utah.edu